New leadership is in place at pipeline firms or consortiums in the US, Canada, and the former Soviet Union.
With the closing of Duke Energy Corp.'s acquisition of Westcoast Energy Inc., Duke Energy Gas Transmission (DEGT) Pres. Robert Evans adds the title of CEO in leading the expanded gas transmission unit. DEGT is a unit of Charlotte, NC-based Duke.
Evans's senior leadership team comprises Robert Reid, president of the unit's Canadian operations; Tom O'Connor, president, US operations; Dorothy Ables, senior vice-president, finance and administration, and chief financial officer; Alan Harris, senior vice-president, strategic development and planning; and David Unruh, senior vice-president and general counsel.
O'Connor, Ables, and Harris have worked as administrators for DEGT, while Reid and Unruh join DEGT from Vancouver, BC-based Westcoast Energy.
Since the acquisition announcement on Sept. 20, 2001, the companies have received all required regulatory approvals to complete the transaction (OGJ, Oct. 1, 2001, p. 36).
Phillip R. Knoll has been named president of Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline LP (M&NP). Knoll will lead the combined Canadian and US portions of the 1,300 km natural gas transmission system extending from Goldboro, NS, to Dracut, Mass. Since early 2001, Knoll served as president of M&NP Canada. Prior to that, he served as president of Westcoast Gas Services Inc., a unit of Westcoast Energy.
Knoll's appointment comes on the heels of Duke's announced acquisition of Westcoast Energy. The merger increased Duke's ownership in M&NP to 75%. Other partners are Emera Inc. 12.5% and ExxonMobil Corp. 12.5%.
In addition to Knoll's appointment, Duke Energy reported the designation of Halifax as the headquarters for M&NP.
Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) has appointed a new staff of officers.
Ian MacDonald-who joins CPC from ChevronTexaco Corp., one of the consortium's partner companies-has been named CPC general director, a position served on a rotating, 4-year basis. MacDonald currently serves as president of Chevron Neftegas Inc. and oversees ChevronTexaco's Russian operations.
Over his 20-year career with Chevron and ChevronTexaco, MacDonald has held numerous positions in the UK, the US, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, and Russia. During 1996-99, MacDonald served as manager, logistical operations, for the Kazakhstan-based Tengizchevroil joint venture.
Sergey Gnatchenko, currently CPC's general director-a title he's held since December 2000-has been named CPC's first deputy general director, operations. Prior to his appointment, Gnatchenko served as president of Lukarco Services BV, a joint venture of Lukoil and BP PLC predecessor ARCO. Gnatchenko has 18 years of experience in Russia's oil and gas industry.
Rounding out CPC's leadership team are the following personnel and their new positions: Gary Boubel, deputy general director, engineering and projects; Anatoly Guskov, deputy general director, general business; Edward Mazur, deputy general director, finance; and Nikita Sergeev, general counsel.